Chapter 31
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I possessed the body of a homebody villainess locked away in a desolate tower. Chapter 31 Lady Rainy ultimately could not refuse the conditions I had set and surrendered.
"...I will do my very best."
It was only natural, really. After all, who could possibly refuse such favorable terms? As the saying goes, the beginning is half the battle—with Lady Rainy's approval, I took my first step and made my way directly to Liam's Office. Knock, knock.
"Come in."
Not long after my knock, a weary voice drifted through the door. As I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, I found Liam buried beneath a mountain of documents, much like the Grand Duke. His once pale and flawless complexion now appeared haggard and dull—a sight that stirred an unexpected pang of sympathy in me, despite my usual disdain for him.
"What brings you here?"
"...Um, are you busy?"
The quill that had been flowing gracefully in his hand came to an abrupt stop. Liam looked up at me with a peculiar gaze, his lips parting slowly.
"No, not at all. Never mind that comic book distribution contracts are pouring in from all directions, interview requests are flooding in, tax filings are pending, I'm overseeing construction projects with the Black Eagle Corps, and I've been scrambling to procure Poleta leather—I honestly can't remember the last time I slept properly, but yes, I'm not busy at all."
His words tumbled out like machine-gun fire, and my conscience pricked with guilt as I lowered my head sheepishly. But I couldn't simply turn back now. I steeled myself once more and turned my gaze back to him.
"Ah, I see. Well then, I won't take up much of your time."
I strode forward. Approaching him with quick steps, I whispered softly.
"Where's my money?"
"...Pardon?"
Liam narrowed his eyes for a moment, as if gauging my intent, then adjusted his glasses.
"Are you referring to your royalties?"
"Yes."
"Your Highness's share is being kept separately."
So where exactly? Of course, I didn't believe they would embezzle the money I had earned through blood and sweat (?), but I whispered with a slightly more insistent tone.
"I need the money rather urgently...."
"Hmm?"
As his sharp gaze swept across my face once more, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
"It's just... there's something I really need it for."
"As you can see, it's difficult for me to accompany you at the moment."
With those words, Liam gestured around the room. True to his word, documents were scattered everywhere—so much so that even if I spent an entire day sifting through them, I doubted I could see it all.
"Oh, I see? Then what should I do... I suppose I'll have to come back later. But it's urgent...."
Perhaps a busy man like him would have preferred I give up quickly, but I was in just as much of a hurry. For Lady Rainy to begin her work immediately, I needed funds to pay her and hire the necessary personnel!
"Sigh."
Fortunately, impressed by my relentless manual assault, Liam rose with a long exhale.
"Very well, then." *Click.* He opened a drawer beneath the desk and produced a small pouch, which he handed to me.
"What is this?"
"The seal and key of the Blaire Grand Duke House. Once you carry these to the Pascal Merchant Guild, you should receive all the guidance you require."
Ah, I opened the pouch and examined the round seal and the intricately patterned key engraved within, then nodded. Since this world had no concept of banks, people typically either hoarded money at home or entrusted it to reputable merchant guilds. The Pascal Merchant Guild had multiple branches throughout Salt, so its credibility was beyond question.
"Well, but..."
As I closed the pouch and turned, Liam was already buried in his documents. 'Can I really go alone?' Wasn't I technically a captive brought here against my will? Various doubts surfaced, but I felt too guilty to disturb his concentration again. In the end, I simply shrugged lightly and bid him farewell.
"Thank you, Liam. You've got this!"
Just hold on a little longer—I'll definitely get you some nice blackout curtains as a gift! * * * And so, I found myself boarding a carriage with Bonita, tense with the excitement of venturing outside after so long.
"Come to think of it, this is the first time I've gone out with you, Miss. You never seemed to enjoy leaving the house much before. Hehe."
"...I suppose."
Bonita's cheerful voice brought a wave of reality crashing down on me. When exactly had my peaceful, introverted homebody lifestyle become so hectic? 'But once I'm rich, all of this ends!' Passive income! A dream sanctuary where I'm never bored, even alone! A comfortable life where no one exploits my labor! As I spun hopeful fantasies about the near future, the carriage suddenly came to a halt. Leaning out through the door the Coachman opened, I gasped at the sight of a rare, towering building before me. 【Pascal Merchant Guild - Blaire Branch】 The massive structure, bearing an enormous handcrafted sign, stood before a throng of people crowding the entrance.
"There's even a line?"
Bonita, standing beside me with a satisfied expression, replied.
"The Pascal Merchant Guild handles so much business that this area is always bustling."
"Ah, I see."
After lingering nearby for a moment, I naturally walked toward the back of the line of people standing in queue.
"Miss!"
If Bonita hadn't rushed over in alarm, I would have found an appropriate spot to stand. I stopped in my tracks at her unexpected call, turning to face her with a bewildered expression.
"Oh, Miss, you don't need to wait in line!"
"...Why?"
"Well, you're a guest of the Blaire Grand Duke House!"
Tug! Bonita, who had seized my wrist, dragged me toward the Gatekeeper who was organizing the queue at the entrance. Having been raised with the lesson drilled into my ears that cutting in line was not proper etiquette, I felt oddly self-conscious about it.
"Hello?"
"What brings you here?"
Bonita bowed politely to the Gatekeeper, whose expression was rather intimidating, and produced a seal. The moment the Gatekeeper saw the Grand Duke House's seal, studded with what appeared to be expensive jewels, his eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
"Ah, I'll escort you inside at once!"
Seeing him so visibly flustered, I felt oddly embarrassed instead. It was rather like watching a VVIP appear in a department store. The commotion subsided quickly, and not long after, the Merchant Guild Master himself appeared before me, his expression awkward as he perspired profusely.
"From the Blaire Grand Duke House... w-what, what business brings you here...?"
The man, who kept dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief soaked through with sweat, alternated his gaze between the key Bonita had handed him and me.
"A vault key?"
"I came to retrieve something we have stored here."
"Ah yes, of course, that's entirely possible. Would you follow me for a moment?"
As I followed him, a massive iron door guarded by two armed soldiers came into view. Creeeeak. Beneath it lay an endless staircase. As I descended, I was conscious of the temperature growing subtly colder and took care not to stumble. 'It feels just like the magical bank vault from that fantasy series.' While I was lost in thought, the Merchant Guild Master, who had been walking past identical-looking vault doors, stopped before one whose keyhole bore the same shape as the key I had brought, and stepped back.
"This is it." 'Oh.' I slowly inserted the key into the opening of the vault. The heavy vault door opened silently, revealing a small space of perhaps thirty or forty square meters. Walking slowly inside, I came to a halt before several large pouches stacked on the floor. 'H-how much is all this?' I had anticipated that the royalties from selling the comic books would be considerable, but not to this extent! Silence fell in an atmosphere thick with tension—or perhaps something else. When I nudged one with my foot, brilliant gold coins spilled out from the loosely opened pouch.
"Bonita."
"Yes!"
Contrary to my worry that my voice might tremble, Bonita answered with a spirited tone. Ah... facing an astronomical sum I couldn't even begin to estimate, I opened my mouth again, my voice slightly more overwhelmed.
"Pack it up."
"Yes, Miss!"
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